Shahrom 7th in Powerman Alabama

Shahrom Abdullah finished 7th in Powerman Alabama. Click here for the official result by category, or here for overall. This message from Shahrom is taken from bola2api.blogspot.com...

Hi everyone!

Powerman Alabama, 8km 53km 8km, target top 5.
I get 7th overall only 2 pro start and age group start 1min behind.
1st run 28.20, bike 1:32.20, 2nd run 30.59, total 2:32.50.
full result at www.team-magic.com
Next week at Powerman Holland, target top 10.

Regards

Shahrom Abdullah

Shahrom Misses Bronze In Duathlon

PATTAYA, Dec 8 (Bernama) -- Malaysia finished empty handed in the duathlon event of the SEA Games here, with Shahrom Abdullah missing out on the bronze by just 10 seconds while a crash during the cycling part cost Mariana Mohamed a shot at the medal.

The 28-year-old Shahrom, currently ranked among the top 100, finished the event in fourth place in two hours three minutes and 27.81seconds while teammate Heidilee Mohamed was a rung below in 2:06:38.82s.

Two-time Asian champion Ryan Mendoza of the Philippines clinched the gold after clocking 1:59.19.09s while Thailand's Amnar Srichat (2:03:14.93s) and Filipino August Benedicto (2:03:16.09s) took the silver and bronze respectively.

In the women's event, Saifon Piawong won the gold medal in a time of two hours 14:19s, nine minutes faster than silver medallist and compatriot Sontiya Saiwaeo while the bronze medal went to Analiza Dysangco of the Philippines.

Mariana, a mother of two, was unlucky when she crashed in the bike event and finished the race in fifth spot with a time of 2:28:25s while teammate Stephanie Chok came in sixth in 2:40:33s.

Team manager Lau Kong Yew said that he was expecting one or two medals today.

"Mariana was unfortunate when she crashed and had some bruises. We hope to do better tomorrow," he said.

The duathlon comprises a 10km run, 40km cycling and 5km run competition while in triathlon, athletes swim over 1.5km swim, cycle 40km and run 10km

-- BERNAMA

Triathlon: Kimberly and Shahrom best bets

KIMBERLY Yap and Shahrom Abdullah are the two best bets to win gold medals in the triathlon at the Sea Games.

Winner of the only gold for the sport in the 2005 Manila Sea Games, Kimberley will be defending her title in the women's category.

In fact, Kimberly is the No 1 women's triathlete in Southeast Asia and also the Asian No 33.

Kimberly has represented Malaysia in swimming previously and has two Sea Games bronze medals as a member of the 4x100 and 4x400 quartets.

But after the 2001 Sea Games, the Sarawakian started competing in a few events that had both triathlon (swimming, cycling, running) and duathlon (cycling and running) disciplines and she got hooked.
In the men's category the Triathlon Association of Malaysia (TAM) is pinning its hopes on Shahrom, who has been involved in the sport for six years, to land its first gold medal.

"We are sending eight athletes to Pattaya, and we hope that they will do well," said TAM secretary Chan Chee Seng.

"I am sure Kimberly will deliver and, hopefully, Shahrom will also."

The Sea Games-bound athletes are in competing in the Lumut Challenge which begins today.

"Based on Kimberly and Shahrom's performances they are a class above the Sea Games level, and they should deliver."

World champs Vansteelant and Csomor stamp their marks

SERI MANJUNG: The world champions proved too strong for the rest of the field in the Malakoff Powerman Malaysia 2007 in Seri Manjung yesterday.

The world number one male duathlete, Joerie Vansteelant of Belgium, and the top female, Erika Csomor of Hungary, dominated the 11km run-64km cycling-10km run event from start to finish.

Their efforts were worth US$5,000 each.

Vansteelant, who was the runner-up to his late brother, Benny, last year, fulfilled his determination to keep the title in the family by setting a new record of 2'39:49 – a good five minutes ahead of the pack.

“My thoughts were on Benny during the second half of the race and I just gave it all I had. The crowd were really supportive and I found a final burst of speed,” he said.

Dutchman Armand van der Smissen finished second in 2'45:14 and Canadian Luke Dragstra was third in 2'45:49.

Crispine Onyango (002) leads eventual winner Joerie Vansteelant (001), Ryan Mendoza (013) and Rob Woestenborghs (012) during the first 11km run leg.

World Champion Vansteelant crosses the finish line.

Malaysia’s Shahrom Abdullah and Wong Ah Thiam finished seventh and eighth respectively in 3'00:08 and 3'11:53.

“This year’s course is much tougher than last year but I’m happy to have bettered my placing from ninth to seventh,” said Shahrom, a member of the Malaysian duathlon squad for the Korat SEA Games next month.

The women’s race was more closely fought and defending champion Csomor's decision to come early to prepare paid off handsomely – winning the race in 3'07:39.

“I know that the heat can be my biggest problem and I got in more training in local weather. The field was tough but the others did not have the advantage of training here,” said the Hungarian.

Michelle Parsons of Britain was second in 3'09:09 followed by Hungarian Reka Brassay in 3'11:31. It was a repeat of last year's finishing order.

Malaysia’s Mariana Mohamad, also a member of the SEA Games squad, finished fourth in 3'23:51.

Shahrom: I need to win gold for the sake of the sport

SHAHROM Abdullah (pic) will be out to play a big role for duathlon in the SEA Games next month.

The 28-year-old Kelantanese has been involved in the sport for the last six years and he believes that winning the regional crown in the competition to be held in Pattaya would be a major boost to promote and popularise the sport, which is relatively new in Asia.

“It is going to be an eye opener for many and I am sure a couple of medals from duathlon would give the sport a major boost,” said Shahrom, who was ranked at number 14 in the world three years ago.

“My rankings have dropped because there is a lack of competition in this part of the world. Most of the circuits are in Europe and unless the sport gets a lifeline here, it is difficult to see better response from the Asian athletes.”

Shahrom, who is currently ranked among the top 100, added that the fight for the gold medal should come from two-time Asian champion Ryan Mendoza of the Philippines.

“I have raced against many top duathletes, including world number one Joerie Vansteelant from Belgium. I need this gold for the sake of the sport,” he said.

Besides Shahrom, the other entry for men’s duathlon at the SEA Games is Sabahan Heidilee Mohamed. The women competitors are Mariana Mohamed and Stephanie Chok Kui Eng.

The 29-year-old Mariana, a mother of two, is also a top contender for the gold medal as she is ranked among the top 50 female duathletes in the world. She finished a creditable fifth in the Powerman Malaysia Duathlon in Lumut last year.

Malaysia, who won the gold and silver at the 2005 Manila SEA Games in triathlon, will once again be banking on Kimbeley Yap to defend the crown in the women's category. In Manila, when triathlon made its debut in the Games, the silver medal came from United States-based Loh Yeong Shang.

Malaysia's other female triathlete for the Games is Ooi Chiew Wei while seasoned campaigner Razani Husain will spearhead the men's challenge together with Wei Kuo Hau in Pattaya.

In duathlon at the Games, athletes will race in a 10km run, 40km cycling and 5km run competition. The triathlon event is over 1.5km swim, 40km cycling and 10km run.

Duathlete Shahrom aims to better his world rankings

National duathlete Shahrom Abdullah is aiming to improve on his world rankings when he competes in the Malakoff Powerman Malaysia duathlon championships in Lumut on Nov 11.

The 28-year-old Kelantanese, who is ranked among the top 100, will race in the company of top contenders, including world number one Joerie Vansteelant of Belgium.

“I probably would have been ranked higher if I had participated in more ranking events,” said Shahrom, who will represent Malaysia in duathlon at the SEA Games next month.

Duathlon, a run-bike-run event, will make its Games debut in Pattaya.

“I had initially tried for the better known triathlon but swimming is not my strength. The duathlon is very much suited to my abilities in cycling and running,” said Shahrom, who was a member of the national mountain bike team for the 2001 KL SEA Games.

Shahrom’s first major event in duathlon was the 2002 Malaysian Malakoff Series and he went on to claim the overall title.

“It was an unexpected win, as I was new to the sport, but I knew I’d found the sport for me,” he said.

More than 560 international and local athletes will participate in the 11km run-64km bike-10km run event in Lumut.

Besides Shahrom, SEA Games-bound duathlete Mariana Mohamad and triathlete Kimbeley Yap will also be among the competitors.

Duathlon: World class field to compete

MALAYSIA’S Shahrom Abdullah, Mariana Mohamad and Kimbeley Yap will be up against a world class field in the Malakoff Powerman Malaysia 2007.

The event, to be held on Nov 11 in Seri Manjung, Perak, will see more than 560 participants, including over 200 duathletes from abroad.

The run-bike-run multi-sport event consists of a 11km run-64km bike-10km run, and offers a prize purse of RM132,000.

As duathlon will make its debut in the Korat SEA Games, duathletes from Southeast Asia will use Malakoff Powerman Malaysia 2007 to gauge their performance prior to the games.

Shahrom Abdullah, the sport’s local strongman of many years, is gearing up to contend with a field that includes International Triathlon Union Duathlon World Champion Joerie Vansteelant of Belgium, and the Philippines’ top duathlete, Ryan Mendoza.

Shahrom and Ryan are expected to slug it out for Southeast Asian supremacy, barring surprises from less fancied competitors.

“I will be training in Kuantan to get away from the constant questions on what are my medal prospects for the Sea Games. The right frame of mind is as important to winning as physical training,” Shahrom said.

World champion Joerie Vansteelant said the race route is fast, but the heat, humidity and fierce competition would be a big challenge.

Mariana Mohamad, Malaysia’s top ranked female duathlete, will be representing the country at the Sea Games with Stephanie Chok.

The 29-year-old mother of two, finished fifth in last year’s Malakoff Powerman Malaysia race and will be aiming to better her finish against an even stronger international field.

Mariana’s brother, Heidilee Mohamad, will also be part of the Sea Games squad but will be sitting out the Malakoff Powerman Malaysia due to injury.

Kimbeley Yap, triathlon gold medallist at the last Sea Games, will be competing as preparation for the Korat event.

“Although there is no swimming leg, the Powerman duathlon will be an excellent race for me to raise my running and biking speed. I need strong competition to go faster,” the final-year student at the Bukit Jalil Sports Academy said.

Duathlon: World No.1 Csomor back to defend women’s crown

World number one Erika Csomor of Hungary will be back to defend her title in the women's elite category in the Malakoff Powerman Malaysia 2007 Duathlon championships in Lumut on Nov 11.

Csomor clocked 3'06:13 to clinch the crown in Lumut last year. Michelle Parsons of England finished second on 3’07:59 while Reka Brassay of Hungary was third after clocking 3’14:03.

Belgium's world number one Benny Vansteelant won the men's crown last year. He passed away in September following a road accident.

This time, Joerie Vansteelant is the favourite for the men's title. He is the current world number one.

More than 560 participants, including Malaysians, will be vying for honours. A total of RM132,000 in prize money is up for grabs in the various categories.

Shahrom Abdullah and Heidlee Mohamed will be leading Malaysia's challenge in the men's category. Mariana Mohamed, who finished a creditable fifth last year, and Stephanie Chok Kui Eng will be Malaysia's strong challengers in the women's category. All four are preparing for the Korat SEA Games in December.

Shahrom said the race would be an ideal warm-up before the Games.

“There is a lack of competition in the country and the Malakoff Powerman gives me the opportunity to race against the best athletes,” said Shahrom at the launch of the event yesterday.

The duathlon involves an 11km run, a 64km bike race and then another 10km race. There will be three categories contested - individual (11km run-64km bike-10km run), Malakoff Power Relay (11km run-64km bike-10km run) and Malakoff Sprint Duathlon (5.5km run-32km bike-5km run).

Shahrom in action in Richmond

Here's some shots of Shahrom in action in the recent Duathlon World Championships in Virginia, USA:

Shahrom 27th in Virginia

Shahrom Abdullah finished 27th in the Elite Men's category of the Duathlon World Championships held in Virginia, USA on Sunday, in 3:40:00. The race was won by Joerie Vansteeelant who finished over 6 minutes clear of Spain's Javier Garcia.

Click here for full results. Photos coming soon!

Shahrom for Duathlon Worlds

Malaysia's Shahrom Abdullah is in the Elite Men start list for the McDonalds 2007 ITU World Duathlon Championships to be held in the US this Sunday 21st October.

Shahrom (centre) after winning the 2007 Oakley City Duathlon in Singapore.

Also in the Elite category is Belgium's Joerie Vansteelant, who could well be seen at Powerman Malaysia on 11 November at Seri Manjung in Perak.

Shahrom 4th in Canberra

Despite leaving his running and cycling legs at home, Malaysia's Shahrom Abdullah finished 4th in his age-group and 27th overall in the ITU Duathlon Oceania Championships held on 23rd September in Canberra, Australia.

Full results here.